The campus of the University of Bamenda, UBa, has been agog with joy that has sprung from recent commencement of payment regarding FCFA 50,000 awarded to meritorious students by President Paul Biya as avenue for the emergence of geniuses in the country’s universities. It is now customary for long queues to be seen in front of one office and the other as lucky students take turns to receive the presidential package.

While it is common phenomenon for the unlucky to look at the activity from a distance, those who have been able to feature on the list consider such a gesture as total financial bail-out. To many, this money will either help them further their education or act as head-start in their different fields of work upon graduation.

According to Injoh Mbakwa of Building and Structural Engineering, it is tuition insurance. “I feel very happy because it’s going to help me, given that I am continuing with my studies and this money from the president will help pay my fees. I think the offer is very timely.” Although expected last academic year, Collins Mbutumum, of structural engineering HTTTC Bambili, says it’s never late. “I feel happy it is a good gesture from the President of the Republic which I really do appreciate. This money will help me to get some goods for myself, and why not, even give some to my mother. I can say it is not late because the year is gradually coming to an end and by this time there is a lot of financial hardship which people fight to tackle. So I think it is not late.”

In actual celebration, some students like Quiniver Wallang, Administrative technique, HTTC think the financial aid should be paid in October. “I have already graduated from school and I am teaching already. This money has come at a time when we need finances for transportation and solving difficulties at home, and even buying text books to build our notes and impact students. Although I expected this money before now, it is still useful.”

At the moment, the Universities of Buea, Dschang, Douala, Yaounde 1 and 2, Maroua, Ngaoundere have already tapped from this presidential largesse. The general cry of the students of UBa is that this money as from next year should come on time. Nevertheless, some final year students of UBa lament that this presidential offer should first be given to those in the faculties, given that those in HTTC and HTTTC automatically become civil servants upon graduation.

The continuous dilly-dallying by the University of Buea, UB, administration relating to the fate of Buea Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge, in the forged entry certificate scam into the prestigious tertiary institution has begun causing some observers to question if the exercise to screen out fraud in the University was not smokescreen to prick inconsequential and unprotected small fish even as a guilty whale is still parading the streets armed with wrongly acquired degrees from the same institution.

UB authorities are being pilloried for having been swift in sweeping away those who faked their way into the institution; just get a job in order to survive. Yet, the Government is taking so much time in handling same issue and even a worse case with a Government personality who has been exposed by some institutions for faking his way into same institution.

They have relied on the case of Nnoko Elume Wilson and his wife, Nnoko Philomena now dead, saying their demise had come about as a result of being ejected from UB. Nnoko Elume and Nnoko Philomena were some of the unfortunate ones who lost their jobs recently from UB after faking their way into the prestigious University. For more than a decade, they lived happily as a family and they depended just on income gotten from UB to raise their children and give them sound education.Their joyful home later became one filled with sorrows and lamentations recently. With both parents solely depending on the income gotten from UB for their family’s survival, their forceful and sudden exit from the institution came as a shock first to Nnoko Elume.

Barely few weeks after he and his wife were ousted from UB, his heart couldn’t sustain it. Elume had a partial stroke attack and was rushed to the Buea Regional Hospital. Despite all prayers, hopes and medical attention for his recovery, in astonishment, he gave up the ghost recently.

While his family was still about to be salvaged from the distress his sudden bereavement had brought, his wife also took ill. Believing that Mrs. Nnoko may have been greatly affected by the death of her husband and the heavy responsibility she had now been saddled with little or no income in the pocket, in a bid to save her life, her family immediately rushed her to the hospital for treatment. But, like her husband, her precious life was also lost to the cold hands of death.

The four orphans of late Mr. and Mrs. Nnoko are left to suffer the consequences of their parent’s malpractice. With neither a home left for them nor a bank account for them to continue their lives with, the children are left to fend for themselves.Like the Nnokos, many who were also ousted from UB are either going through one ordeal or the other. Some have picked up the broken pieces of their lives and moved on with.

It is against this framework that many are worried that despite numerous petitions to the Minister of Higher Education, the ‘Procureur General’ of the Southwest, and authorities of the University of Buea, requesting that this institution of higher learning redeem its good credentials by way of shaming academic fraud, its political provenance notwithstanding, nothing has been done so far.

The question which comes in mind of denizens is do some Government officials appear to be above the law or is the law made just for the masses with no ranks in the society who are voiceless or without a Godfather? However, the dust is yet to settle pertaining to justice to UB fake certificate saga. Until then, the hearts of many remain aggrieved, longing for justice.

The puerile attitude of lawmakers in the National Assembly that has earned them the nickname of stand-up comedians has reached a frenetic pitch, causing many observers to question if both Government and Parliamentarians have not been afflicted by some demonic spirit that has blindfolded them from reality. In reaction to this cavalier approach to public affairs Hon. Member of Parliament, MP, for Jakiri in the Northwest Region, Joseph Wirba, has challenged House Speaker Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, to take laws to the President of the Republic for them to be passed by decree, arguing that nothing serious goes on in the ‘Glass House’ sittings. He flared in anger as he insisted that the interest of denizens has no place in their customary come-together.

Wirba, made the revelations following the temporary halt of House business on Friday, November 24, occasioned by boycott and subsequent drama staged by opposition SDF MPs at the ravaged Yaounde Ngoa-Ekelle ‘Glass House’ the previous day.

The revered MP commended the boycott which he noted was overdue, hinting that it could be the magic to reignite the people’s belief in the party.

“It is a small step in the right direction. If they can hold on to it, then it may appeal to their people for once. The people have been grossly disappointed with their representatives from the English speaking Cameroon. I find it strange that people sit and talk of what their party wants rather than what the people want. So whether they are CPDM or SDF, they should know that parties exist because of people,” he stressed.

As to whether he plans on returning to the hemicycle, he quickened that “the only condition for my return to that house is the call for an extraordinary session of the assembly to discuss these profound issues. If this cannot be brought to a session of its own, then we are just wasting time. Let them sit and call an extraordinary session to change the constitution so the President can be there forever. Millions of people are screaming for justice and the Assembly cannot sit on it? I find it totally incomprehensible. I do not know where the people ruling this country are living. They must come from another world because I cannot understand why they are doing what they are doing,” he concluded.

In reaction to the temporal closure of the doors to the ‘Glass House,’ Wirba noted that Assembly affairs had become unsavory in his patriotic mouth.

“I have just developed a general disinterest in whatever they are doing. I noticed that that place is run like a club one year after I joined in 2014. Like I have told you my dear, there is nothing going on in that house in the name of the people of this country. Nothing! It is a club that the guys run and they manage the best way they can. That is why I have challenged them to take every law back to the President. Let him do it by decree because there is nothing going on in that house. It is just drama. Ok? This state has no National Assembly to tell you the truth,” he wrapped.

Hon. Wirba chastised his colleagues of Anglophone Cameroon for what he termed their disregard of the murders, maiming and other forms of violence and marginalization their people have recently suffered from the regime. He questioned their motive for travelling to Yaoundé, cautioning them to be watchful of what they do or say on behalf of the grieving people of former West Cameroon.

“Our people of Southern Cameroons are in a revolution. Some people have mistaken it and have been thinking it is a political situation. They want profound and lasting change. You can hear some of them already clamouring for that change, separating them from the rest of the country.

“Their representatives should therefore be very careful with what they do or say. From what happened on October 1 and beyond, my personal opinion was that nobody representing the people of this territory ought to have even gone to Yaoundé. “The Government cannot just deploy its soldiers and molest people, maim them, kill them, leaving thousands lying in hospitals and we the representatives just go on as if it is normal. They take it for a normal state of affairs but I do not. That is why even before my constituents said there was no need going to Yaoundé following what I have been doing and the recurrent declarations of the Speaker of the National Assembly that the topic I have been raising has no place in that house, I had resolved to stay away. So before my people came to stop me, my decision was that if we truly represent these people in this pain, then there would be no need going to where you cannot talk of it.”

Meantime, questions abound over Friday’s pause. It is uncertain whether it is because of the SDF saga, the burial of their colleague, Hon. Arthur Lysinge Ekekein his native Bonalyonga village in Buea, or because they had run out of activities.

The drama that has been unfolding in the National Assembly, affectionately, called Glass House, occasioned by the stand-off pitting Social Democratic Front, SDF parliamentarians who see first steps to resolving the current Anglophone crisis in the matter being tabled for discussion on the floor of the Glass House against an unyielding House Speaker who sees anathema in any such move, has set turmoil within the SDF party. Not ready to be outdone, Ni John Fru Ndi, SDF Chairman has embarked on an impromptu journey to Yaounde for intervention. He declared his intention to The Rambler on Monday, November 27, some few minutes before setting out on his apparent journey of support to his party members in parliament.

Fru Ndi has said he is going to lend a hand to the MPs if necessary. “The CPDM is bent not to solve the problem but that does not disturb the SDF activities. I am going to Yaounde today. I would be there for a few days to monitor what is happening so that if necessary I would lend them a hand,” he declared. The SDF chair has been worried that his MPs are inconsistent; some have been boycotting parliament and later reappearing, others have been resigning on social media and by word of mouth. He was clear that “The party has not instructed SDF parliamentarians to resign. SDF parliamentarians cannot be resigning from parliament on their own. If they have to resign, they would have to go and resign on the floor of parliament but the party has not instructed its parliamentarians to resign. People do not resign by word of mouth.

“I, as the party Chairman, have not received any letter of resignation from anyone proclaiming resignation. Secondly, they don’t have the right to resign because they never took themselves to parliament. They were sent to parliament by their constituencies. One or two people from the Diasporas or a group of misguided youths cannot tell them to resign and they just resign like that. They owe allegiance to their constituencies and not to a group of people or individuals who ask them to resign. Some even called me to resign so you see how misguided they are by calling me to resign. If they want me to resign from the SDF, let them come to the SDF Convention and vote me out.” Quizzed on future predictions as concerns upcoming parliamentary elections, Fru Ndi spoke with despair. “The future looks bleak because Mr. Biya is not willing to resolve the issue and you cannot force elections in the face of the crises crumbling the country. We have problems in the Far North, North and even Adamawa is not very stable. There is also the Northwest and Southwest. If you have five of your Regions that are not stable for people to go out on campaigns for elections and you are pushing people to go and campaign for elections, how do we do our campaign?”

He reemphasized the political ideology of the party. “The SDF from the unset has proposed federation because we monitor the set up of ethnic groups, the colonial underpinnings and other issues so the only thing that can make us be together is a federal system of Government but as hard as we said it, so many Anglophones don’t believe in it. They said it was a call for secession but it appears the same people who refused to embrace federation are the people calling for federation right now. So why would you allow people to push you to the wall and draw your attention to the fact that you are being marginalized before you accept federation? The federal option has been the SDF’s standpoint from the birth of the party.”

It should be noted that the Chairman’s decision comes days after recent horrific happenings have plagued the house during the just begun November session of parliament being the inferno, boycott of parliament by SDF MPs and willful silence over the Anglophone problem by the house speaker.

The lifeless body of a night watch was found in his own pool of blood on the morning of Friday, November 24, at the Bali neighbourhood in Douala.

Kondo Samuel, 50, worker with a security firm in Douala, had taken service at a residence at the rue Prince Bell in Bali, Douala neighbourhood the previous night where he was reportedly found dead.

“When he signed in for service last night, he later came out to discuss with us. He told us he was not feeling well, that he felt cold inside him before later returning inside the compound where he was guarding,” one of the deceased’s colleague who was guarding a neighbouring residence said.

He was only later discovered lying dead in the morning by children in the residence with stretches on his face.

His body was later taken to the mortuary for post mortem to determine the exact cause of death by security officials called to the scene while elements of the judicial police in Bonanjo have also opened parallel investigations.

Worried that media reports derivable from the third quarterly evaluation meeting of public investment projects in Meme Division that currently ascribe underachievement to Konye Council may impinge on his second term bid Barrister Musima George Lobe, Mayor of Konye Municipality has denied all such fixtures with startling clarifications backed by statistics.

The Mayor has reassured his population that his developmental plans for his municipality are still intact and has not for once been derailed despite distractions from political rivals. He made this affirmation during a press briefing with reporters in Kumba on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at his residence.

Mayor Musima said ever since he and his workers took office in 2013, he had not for once failed in the aim of developing his council area. In his words, “the mantle of development handed to him has not derailed. I think if somebody says it has derailed then it’s very unfortunate because there is no project awarded to us that we have not embarked on”.

In making these statements, the mayor was reacting to criticism of his projects management and execution. He said he was surprised when he read media reports with information from members of the public investment budget participatory follow- up committee that had focused its third quarterly evaluation on his council, outlining projects that his council has not executed when they know exactly the reason why his projects are pending.

He took out time to explain to the press men present that since 2014 when he started executing projects, he has never left them unfinished but for some projects in 2016 which are pending completion due to lack of major equipment and poor terrain. “I want to first start by thanking government for giving councils opportunity to carry out such projects. In 2014, 27 million was given for the rehabilitation of streets in Konye Town, Ngolo Bolo and Ndoi, and all these villages benefited from this. In 2015, the routine 27 million to Konye Council was still allocated to roads. With frozen account we did the road from Mofako to Matoh town. That road was executed and received and it has eased movement of persons and goods between Matoh and Kumba. In 2016, the money allocated for roads is still ongoing. This is because when this money was given around mid-September, it was already rainy season and so no work could be done .We then decided to suspend the work and began by mid-2017. By this time too, the other four Councils were starting work and since we all depend on using the same machines, by the time these other councils had to finish for us to start it was another raining season. So, presently we have just resumed,” Mayor Musima explained.

Quizzed on the FRS CFA 20 million given by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, MINDER, to his Council for rehabilitation of Koba – Mbu road, Mayor Musima said ” the files for this project has been submitted to Konye Tenders Board and it was awarded to late Njikang Richard. By the time it was given to him, it was rainy season when no work could be done. Unfortunately, just when works began he died but his family is still working with the Meme administration to settle for an authorization to continue the work. However, I also want to underscore here that this Koba-Mbu road is the same stretch of road from Wone to Dipenda then Koba. So, if the Wone- Dipenda stretch of road is not completed it’s impossible to start in the middle constructing Koba to Mbu which is even a footpath road with hilly terrain”.

Responding to why some projects like that of the construction of class rooms and benches to government schools in Dipenda and Bosaka are left at zero percent over the past year the mayor responded that the same issue of bad road is hindering the work.

What had begun like an innocuous incursion into the sphere of community support sometime in 2010 has since metamorphosed into full time advocacy against spiteful land grabbing and unscrupulous Government concessions to large- scale plantation promoters and lugging companies. In this regard, from being an ordinary participant in a workshop relating to the quest for free, prior and informed consent of communities faced with agri-business promoters and lugging companies, last March, I have found myself being part of a select team designated to meet the Chinese ambassador to Cameroon to make known our discomfiture regarding the exploitative and sharp practices that have become trendy among his compatriots. From this pedestal, I have automatically become an influential member of the Network of Traditional Rulers for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Cameroon, under whose auspices I have also, been accorded the rare privilege of traveling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as one of the participants to the African Conference on Land policy that held from November 14- 17, 2017.

The thrust of the conference is, The Africa we want: ‘Achieving socioeconomic transformations through inclusive and equitable access to land by the youths,’ with high premium on creating avenues for youths and women to access land for development. This perception of the conference organizers is premised on the realization that most African governments do not have well thought-out and implemented policies that specifically take on board the interest of women and youths. This, to them, is calamitous, given that farming that is mostly on a subsistence scale in most countries is driven by this category of persons who form no less than 80 percent of the work force needed to sustain Africa’s teeming population. As therapy, the African Land Policy Initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA that has now been transformed into the African Land Policy Centre, organizers of the Conference, had thought it wise to bring together no fewer than 500 persons to brainstorm and by extension, exchange notes and learn from variegated experiences through engagement of the academia, civil society, Governments represented at very high levels and, of course, traditional rulers on whom land is supposed to have been vested by tradition, prior to the advent of colonialism .

Even so, the journey to Addis Ababa had not raised any particular expectation given that, Ethiopia had to my hazy imagination, been engaged in drawn- out civil war against Eritrea, its current western neighbor – the longest in Africa barring that between North and South Sudan. Images of the drought that had caused the whole world to be submerged in sympathy with victims consequent upon millions of deaths and had also, given rise to Bob Geldorf’s groundbreaking initiative to raise money through the famous ‘We are the World’ star-studded musical recording resonated in my sub consciousness.

However, this was not to be the case as the classy Addis Ababa International Airport that has nothing to envy from many European Airports dispelled any misgivings that I might have had about the development strides that have been in motion in the country of Ras Tafari Makonen (aka) Emperor Haile Selasie. From the more than 50 airplanes, mostly carriers with capacity of at least 200 passengers that adorned the hangers, to the meticulously constructed infrastructure and mouthwatering services offered by efficient ground staff, Addis Ababa is owe inspiring right from the airport.

Eilily International Hotel where most of the 50 and counting Traditional Rulers were lodged is barely fifteen minutes from the airport. From its aesthetic configuration to the services provided, our overvalued Yaounde Hilton- the only five-star hotel Cameroon boasts of would in all honesty be relegated to backwater. Granted that Addis Ababa is a 10 million inhabitant city in a 100 million inhabitant country, there is still need for the splendour of the city and its infrastructure, particularly, roads to be fore grounded. The sizes and cleanliness of the streets float the impression that work on them had been carried out by extra –terrestrial beings. Juxtaposed with the UNECA Conference Centre which in itself is a modern architecture marvel and other must-see sights like the palace of the legendary Emperor Haile Selasie, in the heart of the city, the awesomeness of the city takes a different allure to be likened only to some well constructed and planned European cities.

As for take-away from the conference proper, trading ideas with traditional leaders from other parts of Africa left one with the regrettable realization that Francophone sub Saharan Africa and Cameroon in particular, have the least attractive conditions to fulfill the vision of ‘the Africa we want’ in terms of access to land by youths and women. The example from Ghana was shortlisted and eventually proposed as the ideal that other countries must strive to emulate even as its government has been enjoined to scale up existing progress. The commendable example from Ghana materialized in 78 percent of all land being vested in traditional and community custody. This way, Government can only come in to request for land when the need arises, while income accruing from land transactions are shared into three parts- one to the local stool (the chieftaincy institution) part to government and another to the community. This way investors deal directly with local communities instead of the government. Can we contrast this with the land grabbing perpetrated by unscrupulous administrators and complicit chiefs in Cameroon?

Of much interest too, is the fact that Ethiopia is a federation, floating a pronounced devolution of power from the centre to the periphery. While paying allegiance to the Prime Minister in Addis Ababa, the Regional Governors have ample discretional powers that permit them to envision and implement development agendas that require no vetting from the central administration. Patriotism has been elevated to a pedestal where even the pauperized fringe still sees hope in a better tomorrow. The citizens have faith in their country and this must be the result of credible governance emergent from transparency and accountability despite military incursions on two to three occasions to infuse greater stringency in managing the commonwealth by some erring leaders. Unfortunately, in our skies, federation has been disrobed of its glittering qualities and ascribed anathema status by the current regime.

Whether we like it or not, the world is on the move. We will either have to join them as a response to inevitability of change or be constrained to experience the Zimbabwean or Burkinabe patterns and kowtow to prevailing trends.

By the way, could someone remind Aeroports du Cameroun, ADC that the Douala International Airport is an eyesore and greatly needs attention in terms of clearing surroundings of the tar mark and providing air conditioning!

Sunset is what most inhabitants of Tiko and Limbe where Pa. Michael Nkem Atabong popularly known as ‘Atabong Enterprise’ spent most of his early and later life must have been experiencing as the mortal remains of the business mogul who died October 20, 2017 at the ripe age of 82 were being coffined at the Limbe mortuary and taken to his Bota residence for wake keep and eventual transportation Friday, November 24 to his native Menji-Fontem Sub Division where he has been laid to rest.

He has been bidden farewell by thousands of relatives, friends, well-wishers and the entire Lebialem community from around the globe. This is because, there is almost no Bangwa man whose life has not been impacted by the late Atabong.

Late Pa Michael Nkem Atabong

M.N Atabong was a man who positively influenced the lives of many young Cameroonians, especially, those from his enclave Lebialem Division. This explains why virtues like kindness, selflessness, discipline and hard work were primordial in the two homilies at his two requiem masses by Rev. Fr. George Jingwa Nkeze and Bishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea in Limbe and Menji respectively.

According to Bishop Nkea, M.N Atabong was an educationist and one of those who encouraged education not only in Lebialem but in the entire republic. He described him as a man of peace who did his best to maintain peace and justice within his family and business. He told his family that the only honour they can give to their father, grandfather and husband was to remain united.

“Do not let the temptations of this world divide you,” he warned. He cautioned them against the common phenomenon of children fighting and killing each other over their father’s property. “If he gave you anything, be satisfied with it and use his success philosophy to live a happy life.” Encouraging them to take their beatitude very seriously, he reminded them that, it is the poor in spirit who will have the Kingdom of God, it is those who mourn who will be comforted, it is the merciful that will be shown mercy and peace makers who will be called sons of God.

“My dear Pa Atabong’s children, I know how it feels to lose a father, because I lost mine too. Do not make your case worse by scrambling over material wealth left behind by your father; but make something for yourself. Be united and let your moral integrity be stronger than attachment to material things,” the Bishop advised. He encouraged them to continue with their father’s legacy of charity, philanthropy and development in the community because, as he put it, anything short of this would not give the late illustrious son of Lebialem peace.

To some mourners and influential sons of Lebialem like Paul Tasong, former Cameroon Ambassador to CEMAC, ‘Atabong Enterprise’ contributed greatly to the development of Cameroon and Lebialem in particular. He said he will forever be remembered for impacting the lives of his people by his attitude and the way he understood nature.

“He placed a lot of emphasis on education and several sons and daughters of the Division benefitted from his largesse and kindness,” Tasong recalled.

Like the Bishop, he said, it is rather unfortunate that even though Atabong placed a lot of emphasis on education, he is dying at a time when the educational atmosphere is not very conducive for children.

Speaking on behalf of the entire Lebang Fondom, HRM Fon Asabatong of Fontem said he was dumbfounded when he got the news of Pa’s death. He said it is a loss whose magnitude is great and painful. The Fon described the late Atabong as a renowned elite who could be referred to as ‘man of the people.’ “He was an elite with a difference; he did not limit his benevolence and kindness to his family or to the people of Lebang; he was a father of all and one who gave without looking behind. He cared for the population, he loved promoting people.”

Fon Asabatong noted that Pa Atabong helped to build schools, even though he did not acquire much education as people with his wealth did; he succeeded and helped others to succeed too. He did not give people fish rather; he taught them how to fish.

He recalled how Atabong’s compound was usually flooded whenever people heard he was around. He said they went there soliciting for all kinds of things they were in need of and he always did his best to meet their demands. “If you look at the population around, it is evident that everyone is really going to miss him and will continue to miss him,” the Fon noted.

The Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Lebialem, Zachariah Ungitoh, averred that Pa Atabong was a great man. He said given the poor nature of roads in the Division and the time he has died, the population at his burial was still remarkable. To him, it is an indication that the Lebialem man can come together when they want to.

“If I had an opportunity, I would have been asking the people; why do you come together like this for burial? Why don’t you come together and talk to your brothers and sisters to go back to school,” Ungitoh wished.

The illustrious son of Lebialem has equally been described by many as a patriarch, philanthropist, educationist, business mogul, genuine industrialist, and a man of the people. He has been succeeded by one of his sons, Atabong Augustine who has promised to take his father’s dream to the next level.

Biography

M.N Atabong was born on December 30, 1935 in Njentse-Fontem to late Pa Nkematabong Atemnkeng and Mami Dorothy Ayinke. He was the second of seven children. He completed standard six in 1951. At 17 as his father could not afford to send him to college, he travelled by truck to Nigeria where he learnt much about business from the Igbo boys. He later worked as labourer at CDC before getting into business with a capital of 250 pounds; 150 given him by his father and 100 from his three years savings at CDC. He dies today as one of the most industrious sons Lebialem has ever produced. The father of 14 has left behind 12 children (as two passed on before him), two widows, 27 grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and the entire Lebialem community to mourn him.

The cold hands of death have persisted in their almost ceaseless drive to deprive the National Assembly of some of its valiant members. The latest in the roll call of parliamentarians who have been called to the world beyond in 2017 is Hon. Arthur Ekeke Lisinge, aka Man-Boy, Member of Parliament for Buea Urban Constituency. He had taken ill early this year and made a number of trips to South Africa to receive appropriate medical attention. He, unfortunately, died on October 10, 2017 after succumbing to the vagaries of rapid deterioration of his condition.

MPs bid farewell to late MP Lisinge

Given the unpredictability of death, the Very Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku, Emeritus Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, has called on Christians to be in good standing in life, seek reconciliation when there is conflict and ask God to number their days so as to be able to distinguish between falsehood and, truth. This call was made Saturday, November 25, during the Requiem service of late Hon. Lisinge.

According to him, times have come with strange deaths that some sons and daughters succumb and die while evil ones prosper day in, day out. Rev. Dr. Nyansako stated that, in the world today, there exist people with so much Knowledge but without wisdom which accounts for the cause of the problems in the society.Taking from Psalms 90:12, he said, if one is able to know to number his days, he will learn to know how blessed he is and will be thankful to God instead of being envious, and evil given that everyone is just a passerby in the world. He added that, in a world where there is death, there should be no room for hatred.

Hon. Emilia Monjoa Lifaka representing the National Assembly stated that, late Hon. Lisinge is the fifth member of the National Assembly who has died during this legislative period. According to her, the deceased was a member the Committee on Production and Trade and member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA. She stated that, Lisinge was a key figure in the legislative work of the National Assembly. But that however, her colleague’s demise is a lesson of a life that will always be remembered.

Being a statutory member of University of Buea, UB Council before his demise, the Vice Chancellor of the institution said that, UB is distressed with the death of Hon. Lisinge. On behalf of the institution, he extended profound condolences to the family of their former colleague. He said that, Hon. Lisinge became a statutory member of Council on November 13, 2013, and was dominant in his physical presence and objectivity about issues of the public.

Prof. Ngomo, stated that, the death of Lisinge has brought back memories of the vacancy UB had four years ago, but that, UB is grateful for his contributions to the school and the society. He held that, UB stands united with the family and mourners, wishing a peaceful domicile wherever he is.

Standing in lieu of the Secretary General of the CPDM Central committee, Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, Minister Delegate in the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Commonwealth Affairs, stated that they were in the funeral to stand shoulder to shoulder with the family, sympathize with them and bear testimony to the great achievements that Lisinge brought to the party. He whispered that Lisinge stood by the CPDM through all the good and difficult moments which the CPDM went through in the Southwest Region.

In the view of Hon. Fritz Etonge, MP for Fako East Constituency late Lisinge was like a father to everyone in the Southwest since he had held several positions within the ranks of the CPDM party. To him, it is rather unfortunate that the deceased has left them at the time when he is needed most. According to him, Hon. Lisinge is one who has sown in the ruling party but, death has him taken away when it was the moment to reap the fruits of his labour. Looking at the huge number of MPs for their colleagues funeral, he said, the deceased was a friend to everyone and effectively representing the population.

Hon. Ngujede Ngole Bob, MP for Kupe-Muanenguba constituency on his part, opined that, the deceased was an easy going person who listened a lot and was very respectful. To him, it is a big loss to the National Assembly, the Southwest Region and the elites for Fako.

Hon. Kwei Andrew, M.P for Bui West said Lisinge was very committed, hardworking, outreaching and was his closest friend in the National Assembly. He added that we was very influential, very knowledgeable, good and everything positive one may think about but that it is very unfortunate to lose such a person.

Who was Hon. Arthur Ekeke Lisinge?

Hon. Arthur Ekeke Lisinge aka by his family Lanre was born on January 7, 1962 in Buea. He joined the Cameroon public service in 1986 when he was employed by the Ministry of Transport. He became the Second Assistant Provincial Chief of Service of Land Transport for the then Northwest Province and then first Assistant Chief of Service of Land Transport. He was the Provincial Chief of Service of Land Transport for the Southwest Province between May 1997 and May 1998, after which he became the Provincial Delegate of Transport for the same Region, a position which he held until 2013. In his political career, he was the Vice President of the CPDM Buea Central II Subsection between 2000 and 2002 and the Fako III Section President between March 2002 and April 2007. He became the Honourable Member of Parliament for Buea Urban Constituency in 2013, a position that epitomized the mutual love between him and his constituents. He was a devoted Christian of the PCC and a member of the Christian Men Fellowship, CMF.

He fell ill early this year and made a number of trips to South Africa to receive appropriate medical attention. He died on October 10, 2017 after a rapid deterioration of his condition.

He was married and leaves behind his wife, three children, parents, brothers, sisters and several other relatives and friends to mourn him.